President Paul Kagame, yesterday, officiated at the passing-out ceremony of 462 Police Cadet Officers at Police Training School (PTS) in Gishari, Rwamagana District.

"I, Paul Kagame, by the power vested in me by the Constitution and other laws, I hereby decorate you with the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police,” the President proclaimed as he commissioned the officers.

The officers, who had spent slightly more than a year on the course, in turn, took the oath before the President.

Kagame thanked the graduating class for their discipline and commitment to serve their country, urging them to uphold the same values during service.

President Kagame stated that security is a priority for Rwanda, alongside development and well-being of the people which falls under the responsibility of national security forces, among other organs.

"Rwandans must be able to take their security and safety for granted. It’s a must and you the Police have been trained to ensure that that is the case,” said the President.

He told the graduates that the skills acquired, the commitment expressed and the oath taken were just the beginning of the task that awaited them.

Professionalism

Kagame underlined the importance of professionalising public institutions to ensure service delivery for every Rwandan and trust from the people of Rwanda.

He added that security plays a central role in sustaining the development of the country.

"Let’s continue to work to deliver development our people deserve. Every one of us must play their part,” Kagame added.

He also thanked partner states that continue to work with Rwanda to develop security forces, adding that Rwandan security forces have been able to provide security beyond national borders with notable professionalism.

At the event, President Kagame awarded top three exceptional performers, namely; Jean de Deau Nsengiyumva , Scovia Kuramukobwa, and Jean Paul Nsabimana.

Among the 462 officers who completed the training, 51 were women and seven were pilots.

During their training, the cadets also engaged in community outreach activities during which they were able to construct six housing units for vulnerable families, Commandant of the training school Denis Basabose said.

Centre of Excellence

Among the courses studied were leadership skills, law and order, ICT, road safety, community policing, drills and paramilitary.

"We have no doubt that the courses they have taken will be reflected in their performance as they execute their responsibilities,” said Basabose.

The latest batch is the seventh cadet intake to go through the school.

PTS is one of the three schools established by Police in its efforts to build capacity of its personnel with required knowledge and skills that respond to modern policing demands,The school opened as a communal police training centre in 1995, before it was upgraded to a police training school in 2000 following the establishment of the Rwanda National Police.

Since then, PTS has grown into a training centre that does not only attract Rwandan cadet students but also officers from across the region and the continent.

It has since been designated as a regional centre of excellence under the auspices of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation, which brings together 13 nations.

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